Maria laughed and laughed again till the tip of her nose nearly met the tip of her chin.
The familiar description when it comes to Maria'a laugh. Really a broad smile and laugh. And this is the description exclusively for Maria. Her amiableness is obvious. She forgot about the displeasing things when she saw the whole family is merry.
That made Maria blush and smile at the young lady
Good-tempered.
plumcake
She's really in favor of food with currants such as plumcake and barmbrack, isn't she?
“Mamma is mamma but Maria is my proper mother.”
Until now, the author shows us Maria's kindness from other servants' points of view and Joe's opinion. Maria is really diligent and modest according to all she did to this family "but she would have felt herself in the way". What will go wrong about such a perfect woman?
These barmbracks seemed uncut; but if you went closer you would see that they had been cut into long thick even slices and were ready to be handed round at tea. Maria had cut them herself.
This detail shows us that Maria is a careful person. It's the first impression on Maria.
Then she remembered what she had been waiting for.
An abrupt end. Has Mr. Doran decide to marry her and make what she think come true?
The instinct of the celibate warned him to hold back. But the sin was there
He seems tortured by these two strong thoughts. Which side would he choose?
On nights when he came in very late it was she who warmed up his dinner. He scarcely knew what he was eating, feeling her beside him alone, at night, in the sleeping house. And her thoughtfulness! If the night was anyway cold or wet or windy there was sure to be a little tumbler of punch ready for him. Perhaps they could be happy together….
He's really psychologically conflicted about whether to be married or not. Two forces are conflicting in his brain.
He had made two attempts to shave but his hand had been so unsteady that he had been obliged to desist.
This sentence express Mr. Doran's anxiety more vividly than the straightforward one.
She felt sure she would win.
This kind of prediction in such a positive tone makes me afraid she may lose. Things tend to go against some conclusions considered as a matter of course.
Some mothers would be content to patch up such an affair for a sum of money; she had known cases of it. But she would not do so. For her only one reparation could make up for the loss of her daughter’s honour: marriage.
Mrs. Mooney care less about money compared to the happiness of her daughter. Her decision goes beyond my expectation but reasonable.
flirted
words in this story are much more frivolous than others.
madonna
Another word with the concept of religion.
Polly was a slim girl of nineteen; she had light soft hair and a small full mouth. Her eyes, which were grey with a shade of green through them, had a habit of glancing upwards when she spoke with anyone, which made her look like a little perverse madonna.
Quantities of descriptions of characters in this story. Whenever there's a new character appearing, the author writes about him/her in detail to impress us with a concrete character.
Mooney
Mooney spells like the combination of "Moon" and "Money", both of which are related to this character I think. The divorce had something to do with 'money', and 'moon' may indicate her beautiful life of suffering just like the bright moon in the darkness.
priest
Priest again, just like in the former stories.
“Come!” No! No! No!
Strong contrast in emotion between the simple words "Come" and "No". It shows what Eveline was thinking about. Although she want to escape and start a new life, she didn't do this because of the entanglement in her mind.
Strange that it should come that very night to remind her of the promise to her mother, her promise to keep the home together as long as she could.
She can'y keep it anyway. She must be feeling very complicated for the contradictory between the promise and her decided choice of leaving.
Of course, her father had found out the affair and had forbidden her to have anything to say to him.
Quite a frustrating father. But that won't stop her pursuit of happiness of her own.
It was hard work—a hard life—but now that she was about to leave it she did not find it a wholly undesirable life.
Anyway she's kind of used to it. Leaving what is seen and done day by day is a really hard thing.
And now she had nobody to protect her.
Home is not a safe place for her. What does 'home' mean to her? What she say about home is that "In her home anyway she had shelter and food". Shelter and food, not a very warm description.
she sometimes felt herself in danger of her father’s violence.
Really a complicated background of her. It will render some unexpected actions of her I suppose.
priest
The author is really a religional one. The character priest appear in most of his stories.
I heard a voice call from one end of the gallery that the light was out.
The light was out. And his love for the girl has oppressed down. He really suffered a lot with this affection. The ending is quiet but with heavy and doom feelings.
I may have stood there for an hour, seeing nothing but the brown-clad figure cast by my imagination, touched discreetly by the lamplight at the curved neck, at the hand upon the railings and at the border below the dress.
He didn't join others playing as depicted in the former part of the story. It may indicate he grew up compared to the dormer state of mind. The carefree playing time has gone away from him.
What innumerable follies laid waste my waking and sleeping thoughts after that evening!
The narrator continue considering the affection for the sister is something foolish something irrational and a waste of time. It features his timid, contradictory and childish personality.
One evening I went into the back drawing-room in which the priest had died.
Why the dead priest is mentioned every now and then in this story? I'm just wondering what role a dead one can play in the following plot.
I did not know whether I would ever speak to her or not or, if I spoke to her, how I could tell her of my confused adoration.
A straightforward sentence here. All descriptions around are making this thought even more impressive.
“Murphy!” My voice had an accent of forced bravery in it and I was ashamed of my paltry stratagem. I had to call the name again before Mahony saw me and hallooed in answer. How my heart beat as he came running across the field to me! He ran as if to bring me aid. And I was penitent; for in my heart I had always despised him a little.
Actually I'm confused by this ending....
The man continued his monologue.
Salient traits of the man's talking can be observed. He seems not to care others' words and continued to be magnetised by his own centered monolugue.
The man, however, only smiled. I saw that he had great gaps in his mouth between his yellow teeth.
I think the old man has known that the boy is just pretending to be a bookworm from his rich experience. But he didn't expose the truth he detected.
He came along by the bank slowly. He walked with one hand upon his hip and in the other hand he held a stick with which he tapped the turf lightly. He was shabbily dressed in a suit of greenish-black and wore what we used to call a jerry hat with a high crown. He seemed to be fairly old for his moustache was ashen-grey.
Words of this old man are really in detail. This man will play a critical rule in the following story I think.
The granite stone of the bridge was beginning to be warm and I began to pat it with my hands in time to an air in my head. I was very happy.
The description of the environment shows how happy he is. Everything here is vigorous and have a vivid life.
Nevertheless it was true.
What's true is considered untrustworthy. Plot in the following text may correspond with this 'contradiction'. I can't wait to read the unexpected ups and downs.
my usual chair in the corner
His usual chair is in the corner. This can indicate his introvert personality and isolation from others. It can also explain why he went closer with Father Flynn.
But no.
When describing the environment, the sentences tend to be long and in detail. But when it comes to the real informative things, only 2 or 3 words. It can be really powerful and impactive.
His questions showed me how complex and mysterious were certain institutions of the Church which I had always regarded as the simplest acts.
Religion is an important part in this story. It may explain the narrator's weird psychological activities toward the died one, and render him to think in another way.
I knew that I was under observation so I continued eating as if the news had not interested me.
Delicate relationship between Father Flynn and the narrator. He just pretend to be not interested or heartbroken. The death of a man is not terrifying at all in this conversation that everyone seemed to have known Father would die.
I am not long for this world
How negative is he! What has he been through?
My treasure! “Good-bye, my treasure!” Which of them had spoken? Why had they said good-bye? There had been some terrible mistake.
Imagination and reality can't be differentiated clearly now. He don't want to admit that he's truly leaving. What he reacted to the title Treasure strikes me. A series of exclamation marks are used to show his excitement and difficulty in believing.
He said—
Once again, Mr. Reave was not to hear what Harold had said. It may remain a mystery until his death.
H’m, h’m! Well, well!
Repeated simple modal particles again. It appears when Mr. Reave wanted to express some unutterable feelings, which is exactly the profound meaning to be tasted by the readers.
He said—
When saying things to Mr. Neave, she's so easily to be interrupt and his daughters seems to care little about chiming in. Impolite. But Mr. Neave did't scold them at all. Maybe that's exactly his generosity makes their impoliteness. The word Spoil was shown implicitly again.
A-ah! Lola gave a cry like a sob and dashed past him.
What Lola did to her father was not out of the feeling of surprise. She's just this kind of person, dashing back and forth and ignorant of her beloved father. It will severely hurt Mr. Neave's feelings.
hyacinths
Just as before, a kind of flower appears in the story. I suppose it will appear for another couple of times. "Apollo named the flower that grew from Hyakinthos's blood hyacinth. Symbolizing sport or play in the language of flowers, hyacinth represent constancy, while blue hyacinth expresses sincerity." In the meaning of hyacinth, I find out that constancy is consistent with the theme of this story. There must be some more underlying relationship like this.
No, they were smart, good-looking girls, and Charlotte was a remarkable woman; it was natural for them to be in the swim. As a matter of fact, no other house in the town was as popular as theirs; no other family entertained so much. And how many times old Mr. Neave, pushing the cigar box across the smoking-room table, had listened to praises of his wife, his girls, of himself even.
I'm just feeling compassionate for old Mr. Neave. He really did incredibly much to this family without expectations to gain praises from his family at all. He was hurt by girls' words. But after only few sentences of complaints, he started to think from others' points of view again. Poor but good man!
Well, well! He couldn’t help a grim smile as painfully he began to climb the hill that led into Harcourt Avenue.
They don't quite understand all the efforts he did to this family. So grim that he could say nothing but simple "Well, well!"
A man had either to put his whole heart and soul into it, or it went all to pieces before his eyes...
His heart is broken, before his eyes. Harold must have encountered something intractable and the spoiling ruined him.
homeward-looking
Correspond with the them of Family. I suppose family really means a lot to this old man. He noticed nothing else such as the crowd's noise of expressions but their intention toward going home.
She wanted to be home, or sitting on the veranda listening to those baby owls.
She was taken back to herself by the words of that fat man. After all, she was not the kind who really enjoys the ball. She's just impressive by the scene on the surface.
fat man
The fat man was mentioned for a second time. He's different from others regarding the age and appearance. He would play in important role in this story I suppose. And the following words reaffirmed his specialty. He didn't mention about the floor any more but noticed it's the first ball of Leila. Maybe he observed Leila for some time?
At that moment the band began playing; the fat man disappeared. He was tossed away on a great wave of music that came flying over the gleaming floor, breaking the groups up into couples, scattering them, sending them spinning...
Excellent descriptions in this paragraph! Really got us in a party alive ourselves! Too impressive to be indifferent for Leila.
felt that even the little quivering coloured flags strung across the ceiling were talking.
Noisy and crowded. Leila was not feeling easy with stuff around. What will she do in such a strange occasion to her. Will she quit or get used to things around?
pink
The color pink appears a couple of times here. I believe pink is representative of a noisy and vigorous party scene like that.
The road was bright on either side with moving fan-like lights, and on the pavement gay couples seemed to float through the air; little satin shoes chased each other like birds.
Really a bright scene although it's night. Leila saw these happy things and her mood was just low in the contrast of what she saw. The author depicts feeling about the scene delicately. Similes and personification are used in doing so.
Our nearest neighbour was fifteen miles
She answered not related to the question at all. She was quite anxious about the current surroundings. We can tell it from her inconsistent answer and her cyclic little actions about her fan.
Laurie leaned forward and put his hand on Laura’s knee.
Laurie and Laura appear again just as the characters in The Garden Party. Are they the same people?
vile, odious, abominable, vulgar
A series of negative words. What's she really thinking about Williams? I believe things are getting complicating in her mind.
But, to their surprise, Isabel crushed the letter in her hand. She was laughing no longer.
Isabel acted unexpectedly from her friends' points of view but expectedly from William's view I think. William feel complacent when posting the letter. He knew that there's still some love in Lsabel. It should be. But Isabel just didn't have the same personalities as he did. So she made fun of this letter from the beginning. Now, she took it seriously.
delicious
Creative to use delicious to describe sleeping. Words in the text is humorous I think.
The post was late as usual.
Sentences in this paragraph give me a sense that the life pace there is rather slow.
The train was in. William made straight for a first-class smoker, flung back into the corner, but this time he let the papers alone. He folded his arms against the dull, persistent gnawing, and began in his mind to write a letter to Isabel.
What he did in the train was totally different from last time. His state of mind changed. He got to feel something different but still related to Lsabel of course.
parched lawn
The grass or lawn in this story is all parched, which is exactly like William's mind. What should be vigorous is parched and what he used to love is wearing him out and is like a torture to him.
Had Isabel the same crowd with her this week-end, wondered William?
He's always thinking about Isabel. What a pity for him. The description is really in detail and portrays his unspeakable psychological activities implicitly.
I’m going to rescue your wife, selfish man.
Traits of Williams can't been seen clearly from his own perspective. Now we get to know what happen to the story. He really loves his wife but has no right actions about it. It's to late for him to recognize all things and to regret. He lives in the world of 'if' lonely and miserable now.
They were in their bedroom in the new house. Isabel sat on a painted stool before the dressing-table that was strewn with little black and green boxes.
Is it his imagination? Where's Isabel now?
and the fields, the sky, the sailing bird, the water, all said, “Isabel.”
This part just make me wonder is it possible to recognize the subject of verbs, especially the verb 'say' or its transformation? Some author may really like to vitalize things while others don't. It can be interesting.
When he looked up again there were fields, and beasts standing for shelter under the dark trees. A wide river, with naked children splashing in the shallows, glided into sight and was gone again. The sky shone pale, and one bird drifted high like a dark fleck in a jewel.
So many dark words are used here. 'dark', 'shadow', fleck', pale. I believe a scene with children splashing water is much brighter than the author described. It indicates the state of mind of the character. Maybe we can pick out the paragraph including adj with strong emotions like this.
“Hysterical!” thought William dully. Then a greasy, black-faced workman at the end of the platform grinned at the passing train. And William thought, “A filthy life!” and went back to his papers.
William seems to know a lot about people like this and a little bit cynical. What's his occupation and what has he gone though?
We tore through the black-and-gold town like a pair of scissors tearing through brocade.
I believe that words varieties is more than previous ones. Many vivid descriptions and similes like this. It's easier to understand and these imaginative words are really attractive.
He meant to say it very low, but it came out very high in a kind of squeak.
He just can't withdraw his happiness and approval. He was just a little child who is purely innocent and can't put the emotions in disguise.
Ghastly affair!
Not a big thing at all! I thought there was really something bad because tragedy suggested ahead of time.
I don’t know why you’re giving me all these
Confused. Is it because I misunderstand the meaning? She asked for them and then questioned why the food was given to her?
a coffee eclair, a meringue stuffed with chestnut and a tiny horn filled with fresh strawberries.
Food creatures characteristics of France. It indicate the story is based in France apart from mentioning francs previously.
I watched anxiously
Why people seem to be afraid of her? Although she always behaves like she loathes anything. Nothing can actually satisfy her.
We drew up before an immense palace of pink-and-white marble with orange-trees outside the doors in gold-and-black tubs.
Colorful descriptions!
“wild”
There're some simple words which are put in a pair of quotation mark instead of using capital letters. And actually I didn't get the point the author want to put emphasis on.
gambler
This story has a lot of words to do with gamble, such as casinos and croupiers in the first paragraph. I wonder what kind of role is gambling playing in this story?
shut up
A sudden shut up really astonishes me a little. Too impolite for a daughter to say like this to her mother. The following text proved this point.
I’ve forgotten too.
Again, so many incomplete sentences. At the end, two incomplete sentences lead to an uncertain thought. I don't really believe they had forgotten what they wanna say. It's just a covering of disguise. But it works well at the ending to leave more room for readers to think.
What did it mean? What was it she was always wanting? What did it all lead to? Now? Now?
A series of questions. The death of her father really grow her up mentally. She becomes more mature in thinking this sort of things. She thinks really deeply and provoking.
Constantia lifted her big, cold hands as if to catch them, and then her hands fell again. She walked over to the mantelpiece to her favourite Buddha. And the stone and gilt image, whose smile always gave her such a queer feeling, almost a pain and yet a pleasant pain, seemed to-day to be more than smiling. He knew something; he had a secret. “I know something that you don’t know,” said her Buddha. Oh, what was it, what could it be? And yet she had always felt there was... something.
Buddha plays an important role in Constantia's recovery from the pain of her father. Thoughts change in her mind. What's difficult to admit is still a pain, but the pleasant one.
“If we postpone it this time—”
Then what? Constantia tends to say sentences which is not complete. What's she thinking about? Incomplete sentences leaves us with various possibilities.
“Isn’t it curious, Jug,” said she, “that just on this one subject I’ve never been able to quite make up my mind?”
Absolutely it's curious! I also want to know why.
“That is perfectly true,” agreed Constantia. “Father certainly doesn’t want any cooking now, whatever else—”
She agreed with this idea totally and said in a definite way perfectly true. But that is't because she herself really approved of this idea. Instead, she still think of thing on her father's point of view.
in her usual fashion
Kate's rudeness isn't just for a few days. She always acts like it.
esstrordinary
Accent again? It reflects the state of Grandfather Pinner was in, deaf and old. This is consistent with his characteristics.
“Don’t shout!” he cried.
Such a moody old man without any patience. He seems to be the kind which is difficult to get along with.
“Do you mind if I take half to begin with?”
How about his " I’ve only just had lunch"? Haha
awful callous smile
Constantia seems to be totally a different person. Quite different from what she behaved before.
she marched over to the wardrobe, turned the key, and took it out of the lock.
What impulses her to do this? Constantia was just a weak girl but changed to be unexpectedly brave. What's the power behind her?
“I didn’t know I was whispering,” whispered Constantia.
The word whisper depicts Constantia's character very well. She is timid and obedient. The contradiction of her whispering though she said she didn't know she was whispering show us a vivid little girl who just can't get used to living without her beloved father.
They were strangers; they couldn’t be expected to understand that father was the very last person for such a thing to happen to.
She can't believe that father had really gone. It may sound absurd, but I think that can be true for two really young girls. What josephine said afterwords sounds strange to anyone else. But when we know the hidden thoughts behind it, we got to know the fragile heart of her and feel really sorry about it.
laughed Nurse Andrews
She's really rude and not realizing what she was doing! (or just not cared about it at all?) She shows no politeness as a guest.
“We can’t disturb Kate again,” she said softly.
What's the relationship between the two girls and the maid. I'm not sure it's because these two girls are very kind, or there's something special which had happened between them.
tabbies
Tabby and enchanted princess show a clear contrast. Even a servant in this house is much better than Nurse Andrews. The simile is interesting, and it also contained the author's emotional preference.
Josephine arched her spine, pulled up her knees, folded her arms so that her fists came under her ears, and pressed her cheek hard against the pillow.
Verbs in this story really attract me in some way. Not only because of the diversity in the verb vocabulary, but also the consecutive use of them.
shrieked
Josephine's emotion is much less stable than Constantia. The author uses shriek ,cry rather than say to Josephine. Verbs used on different characters may convey useful information about personality.
And now the porter’s head, disappearing, popped out, like a candle, under father’s hat... The giggle mounted, mounted
Quite a psychological activity description in detail. words like this can flesh the character. I get the feeling that I'm exactly Josephine.
The week after was one of the busiest weeks of their lives. Even when they went to bed it was only their bodies that lay down and rested; their minds went on, thinking things out, talking things over, wondering, deciding, trying to remember where...
Really a special ending paragraph. In most cases, this kind of provoking words are usually used at the end. Placed in the very beginning, it makes me wonder what's actually happening. And I'm drawn quicker into the story.
He was given up to his dream. What did garden-parties and baskets and lace frocks matter to him? He was far from all those things. He was wonderful, beautiful. While they were laughing and while the band was playing, this marvel had come to the lane.
What is died is really dead. The pain from the band is just to the people alive. In the society with strict class divisions, this story is just a microcosm of the whole thing.
People of that class
Such an appellation which really discomforts me. Feel sorry for people 'of that class'.
creature
The use of the word 'creature' indicate Mrs. Sheridan's prejudice towards those men who live in the 'poky place' as she said. She still impresses me with her coldness in spite of her words which seem to be generous and kind.
Is mother right? she thought. And now she hoped her mother was right. Am I being extravagant? Perhaps it was extravagant.
A beautiful hat changes Laura's opinion totally? It sounds absurd to me. But maybe it's reasonable because Laura is just a child and is quite childish. Although with a kind heart initially, she can be taught to be cold in her family as time goes by. What a pity.
Mrs. Sheridan sighed with relief
She only cares about whether the death had happened in the garden, which would have a straight relationship to the party. She cares about her party much more than a person's life.
“Dead when they picked him up,” said Godber’s man with relish.
I couldn't imagine how can he say this miserable accident 'with relish'? He enjoys seeing others misfortune? What does it mean?
Do you hear me, children, or shall I have to tell your father when he comes home to-night?
Children may be more afraid of their father. It's quite a common phenomenon but I believe there's a social background reason lie behind this.
of these absurd class distinctions. Well, for her part, she didn’t feel them. Not a bit, not an atom...
The theme of the story is first mentioned here I think. The story may have something to do with social class. Because Laura feels little about it, conflicts of different opinion can be aroused.
That Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite was entrusted with the care of a sum of twenty thousand pounds
He's trusted by quite a lot of people. His second side is really dark and fails others' expectation.
In the meanwhile, having now written all that is needful on the subject of Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite’s death, I may pass next to the narrative of his proceedings before, during, and after the time, when you and he met at the late Lady Verinder’s house.
Very logical writing. Whenever he want to move on to the next topic, he always says something to be a transition 同keep things clear. It could also be seen that Sergeant Cuff conveys more information in fewer words than others.
if not legal, evidence
Sergeant Cuff is such a rigorous and serious person to say like it. He's words show traits of his occupation.
journal
Ezra uses the word journal instead of diary as Clack do to refer to nearly the same thing. I believe there's subtle differences between them. And I think there's something to do with the understanding of characters' traits.
Shall I leave them together?
Ezra is invariably aware of the love between them. Bur he didn't leave Rachel alone until Mr. Franklin moved for the first time, which indicate there's nothing wrong with his health. So considerable of Ezra!
No! He got up again abruptly.
Oh! So many abrupt turn here. Up and down, my nerves are also really tense about it!
!
Exclamation mark is really interesting sometimes. In this case, I can feel the surprising feeling of Ezra from this mark. Image of Betteredge is also more vivid than ever before.
I am now to describe
Plain words with no emotion at all! Really curious about the outcoming.
When are you going to give me the laudanum?
The experiment really can;t be carried out as Ezra expected. How can he hold every variable in control? Did Mr. Franklin concern about this question last year? Definitely not! I DO believe every deviation will make a difference.
The advent of the explosion? No: only the advent of Betteredge.
Very humorous!
“Where is he now?” she asked, giving free expression to her one dominant interest–the interest in Mr. Blake. “What is he doing? Has he spoken of me? Is he in good spirits? How does he bear the sight of the house, after what happened in it last year? When are you going to give him the laudanum? May I see you pour it out? I am so interested; I am so excited–I have ten thousand things to say to you, and they all crowd together so that I don’t know what to say first. Do you wonder at the interest I take in this?”
A series of questions shows that Rachel is so excited and cared about Mr. Franklin. Mr. Jennings is capable of detecting that, which would make him longer to see their reunion!
“I know that I am to hold my tongue, sir!” said Mr. Bruff, impatiently. “Being habitually silent on the subject of human folly, I am all the readier to keep my lips closed on this occasion. Does that satisfy you?”
Rather aggressive and exaggerate as words of Mr. Brufff.
June 19th
Maybe if we elicit all the paragraph with specific dates, We can made a timeline of different narratives. If we compare the timeline of them, Something remarkable can be found.
inexhaustible
A lot of adjectives describing the pencil, which makes the dialogue between Mr. Ezra and Betteredge even more amusing!
“Name the parts, Mr. Jennings!” he said loftily.
Interesting description! How could Betteredge say an exclamatory sentence loftily. It;s amusing to imagine this scene.
This is not a matter of agreement, it’s a matter of obedience. Issue your directions, sir–issue your directions!
We can see that Betteredge‘s mind is very contradictory. He's a really loyal and obedient servant in spite of his irrational prejudice.
I felt the attack coming on, and left abruptly, so as not to alarm or distress him.
Dangerous. Discomfort of him may render the failure of the experiment beyond expectation.
I was sorely tempted to hint that he was now wronging her as she had wronged him.
This sentence shows a dramatic scene. And I'm afraid they will wrong each other deeper from now on because this wrongness may not be settled.
My own happiness has been trampled under foot; my own love has been torn from me. Shall I live to see a happiness of others, which is of my making–a love renewed, which is of my bringing back?
It's really kind of him to think like this. Others who judge him by his appearance really underestimate his virtues.
Mr. Luker’s own lips have told them how long they will have to wait, and your respectable authority has satisfied them that Mr. Luker has spoken the truth.
He just speak out one likely possibility about the parting inquiry of the Indian after loads of background information. Now this statement is quite reasonable.
with an explanation which is satisfactory to the mind of a practical man?
Speaking style of this Indian trader is very interesting. Every now and then, he pauses for an affirmation that he's satisfying Mr. Bruff, even though he has thought much off the diamond loss obviously.
and feel that there is a reasonable prospect of the news of his murder being the news that we hear of him next.
The verb 'feel' says that its just Mr. Bruff's personal idea. But it can be a delicate foreshadow as well.
At the same time, and barring that slight drawback, I am bound to testify that he was the perfect model of a client. He might not have respected my life.
This condirms that Mr. Bruff is really a reliable narrator. He is not disoriented by his own subjective feeling. Although the Indian acted impolitely to him, he still thought and said something good about the guest. We can trust his words more than Betteredge and Clack.
She was obstinate; she was wrong. She was interesting; she was admirable; she was deeply to be pitied.
A series of adjectives depict Rachel's characteristics well. They also reflect Mr. Bruff sympathy and respect for her.
She suddenly looked up at me with a faint reflection of her smile of happier times–the most irresistible smile I have ever seen on a woman’s face.
Maybe Rachel figured out about Mr. Godfrey about everything he did before, which can be the evidence of the new-gained information about him. She also cleared up her mind in this period of time and facet the truth with positive attitude.
This absolute self-dependence is a great virtue in a man.
Mr. Bruff has the prejudice towards women as well. But his opinion is more gentle and reasonable. By now, I think he's the most trustworthy narrator, due to his rigorous and precise dispositions.
suggestive of something below the surface
Maybe Rachel actually knows the truth?
scoundrel
scoundrel, imposter,he really had a bad impression on Mr. Godfrey.
And now, here was the man–whom I had always believed to be a smooth-tongued impostor–justifying the very worst that I had thought of him, and plainly revealing the mercenary object of the marriage, on his side!
It really make sense to doubt Mr. Godfrey's motive to marry Rachel now, after knowing him examining Mrs. Verinder's Will in secret.
He looked it over carefully, and made a note in his pocket-book.
What's Mr. Smalley's relationship with Lady Verinder and her Will? Can that be related to the Diamond?
It’s a matter of quieting Rachel’s mind,” answered Mr. Franklin gravely
Mr. Franklin cared more about Miss Rachel rather than the prize of the Diamond. I think this point of view made him less suspicious. After all, Rachel's heart is everything he ever wanted.
You only make them harder on Rosanna than ever. The poor thing is breaking her heart about Mr. Franklin Blake
So considerable, Even though she is just a little girl. But the sympathy Penelope and Betteredge had toward Rosanna may render the words of them more untrustworthy.
She said, ‘They will never find the Diamond, sir, will they? No! nor the person who took it–I’ll answer for that.’
"They will never find that." This sentence Rosanna said was just similar to what Miss Rachel had said. Maybe they're both involved in the theft of the diamond, but Rosanna nearly spoke out the truth in front of Mr. Franklin.
The man made of cotton had disappeared; and the man made of iron sat before me again
And if Mr.Franklin stole the Diamond, Rosanna can be in the conspiracy as well.
Miss Rachel walked swiftly through to her bed-room, wild and angry, with fierce eyes and flaming cheeks.
What had just happened? All people who heard about Miss Rachel's words were overwhelmed with astonishment, while Miss Rachel herself was very angry. I could't even imagine what's kind of thing that had happened/
Penelope flying down after me like mad
Penelope actually push the story forward for many times. I'm not really sure from the view of a child, the narrative is truer or less reliable.
Let’s finish the story of the Colonel first
Avoid answering directly. Is it a method of hiding the personal feelings?
a little way back
The author tends to use this kind of words to revoke the memories and finally (I believe) explain the story as a whole.
She was blushing of a deeper red than ever, seemingly at having caught Mr. Franklin’s eye; and she turned and left us suddenly
A series of adjectives and verbs depict the girl's psychology activities. She is fond of Mr. Franklin. Her sudden turning may because she realized the differences of social levels between Mr. Franklin and her. Self-abasement came again. She can hardly get rid of it.
as head of the servants, I never allow, on principle, to pass without inquiry
This was the second time the head of the servants was treated impolitely as it used to be. What's on earth going wrong?
plain grey cloak
The color also indicate the characters of this poor and quiet girl. Colors express emotions quite well actually.
she went about her work modestly and uncomplainingly, doing it carefully, and doing it well
But why such a laborious maid would be late for the dinner and left the hard work to Nancy? There must be a special reason, which may be partly related to the disappearance as well.
Rosanna Spearman had been a thief
Even though Rosanna seems to be more suspicious of stealing the diamond, the truth is still unknown. And I think in most of the case, the most suspicious people tend to be Innocent in the detective novel. (Haha)
The mist rises in my head, and puzzles me. I can see no more to-day.
This sentence puzzles me. As says as followed, it has a moral. By now, I couldn't find out what's that exactly.
Then they all three faced about, and stared hard in the direction of our house. Then they jabbered and disputed in their own language, and looked at each other like men in doubt.
I believe these three Indian men are not just jugglers. They may have some other purposes. And I wonder what the relationship between these men with Mr. Franklin.
extraordinary tricks
Appeals us to read ahead to know about the extraordinary tricks.
she should tell the story instead of me, out of her own diary
Then the story was written partly based on a little girl's diary, which indicate the zigzag to get the truth of this event.
To-day we love, what to-morrow we hate.
A simple but provoking sentence can bring a person into life again. I don't know what this sentence actually mean in the background of ROBINSON CRUSOE, but that inspired the protagonist. The value of a book may be just like it. We can also see dual characters of the protagonist. He's hatefully stingy, calculating as well as absorbing inspiration from a book adorably.
Economy–with a dash of love
Teasing but true.
Let it be a warning to some of you, and an encouragement to others. In the meantime
The author leaves it what the warnings and encouragements exactly are. From my point of view, warnings may indicate that even though this couple live in harmony judging from externals, it might be dangerous because Sir John is so obedient to the Lady, whereas encouragements means that couples CAN live not miserably like many others. They are not contradictory to each other.
Not perceiving his drift yet, and thinking it always desirable for the sake of peace and quietness to be on the lawyer’s side, I said I thought so too.
He watch carefully about what other people do and weigh the pros and cons. He may be not heartful, just cater to it.